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Edison program

At a glance:

Edison High School juniors from 2006/2007.
They are seniors this year, taking Writing Studio on
campus this fall, and Cultural Anthropology in the spring.


Edison/Washburn seniors from the class of 2007.
Everyone in this picture is currently in college now.

Frequently asked questions

Abdirahman A., Hussein A., Mai Neng H. CE 2004

How do students get into the Commanding English program at Edison?

Commanding English at Edison is open for students who will be juniors in the fall. There is a coordinator that works between the Commanding English administrator and the students during this process of getting in to the program. In the spring of the sophomore year, you will have meetings and events that will give you all the information you need, and will answer all the questions you have about the program. Some where around in the middle of March, the coordinator of the Commanding English at Edison will let you know the meetings and the dates that the test for this program will be taken.

How do I qualify?

Teacher recommendation, a grade point average of 3.0 or better, and passing the Commanding English essay. What kind of essay do students need to write in order to get in to the program? You will get a reading passage with questions, and a choice of essay topics related to the passage. You will need to write an essay that has details; and describes the story just like it is happening right now, right in front of you. The more you write in your essay that gives the reader a following story, the more your essay will be interesting and may be even will lead you to the program as well.

What are some of the rules and regulations of the program?

As far as Commanding English goes, the rules in the class are very common, and not restricted. When you enter the class, you are expected to behave like a college student. There is no need to worry about what you will have to do in the classes, because you will be given a syllabus, which tells you everything you need to do in the class. Most of the classes you take will be different, some of them allow you to bring pop or snack which would not distract the class in any means (ask if it's ok), you can wear a hat or a jacket in any class, but you may not turn on cell phones if you have one with you. If you ever feel uncomfortable with your classmates, you should inform the instructor immediately. There should be no kind of harassment in the classroom and for your safety always let your instructor know if you feel threatened.

On days when you do not have a Commanding English class 4th hour, you can remain in school or you can leave (but you shouldn't be hanging out in the halls, obviously).

Warning about plagiarism

In the Commanding English class, you should be very cautious about plagiarizing. When you do it there is no excuse. Plagiarism is when you use someone's work and call it yours. You might plagiarize in very different ways. For example you could write student's assignment as your own, or use source without indicating where you got it and who wrote it, by making it like as your own. The punishment for plagiarizing could be different by different teachers. Commonly, you could get F for that particular assignment or kicked out of the program if it is serious. There are many ways that you can avoid plagiarism, but the best way is to follow whatever your teacher expects you to do and also read your syllabus carefully.

How do I get a transcript to send to the colleges I am applying to?

Transcripts are available online at www.onestop.umn.edu/onestop/grades.html. They can be printed or viewed at anytime at no cost. An official transcript though costs $5.00 for regular delivery, between two to three work days, and $10.00 for rush delivery. A request form must be filled out first and it can be obtained from the internet under students' one-stop account and transcript file. The One-Stop office is located in Fraser Hall, 200 Fraser Hall, 106 Pleasant Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455. Students can go to the center and obtain their transcript there in person, official or unofficial. Official transcripts can also be ordered by fax or by mail. The University of Minnesota signs and seals all official transcripts going to another institution. When going to get a transcript, student should bring along with them an identification card such as the U Card or government issued ID, the address of the place the transcript should arrive, dates of enrollment, and social security number or U of M student ID number.